Electric scrubbing, waxing and steel wooling machine



13, 1934. a. R|HMQND v 1,947,435

ELECTRIC scRUBING, unna, AND STEEL wooLING IACHINE- iiled lay 25,A 19:50

3 Sheetsv-Sheet '1 EIL Barlow Z Richmond Rb; 13, 1934. B, L R|HMOND 1,947,435..

`ELEGTRIC SCRUBBING, WAXING, AND STEEL WOOLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 195o s sheets-sheet 2 j K Enzian/L@ abbina* Feb.'13, 1934. a. l. RICHMOND 'A *1,947,435

ELECTRIC SCRUBBING, WAXING, AND STEEL WOOLING CHINE Filed lay-26, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ester-rari ses is, rees ygsysgg UNITED STATES PM'Etri` orales ELECTRIC BURNING, WAXING AND STEEL WOOLING MAGHINEl Burton Ira Richmond, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Adams Wax Products Mfg. Inc., St. Paul, Minn., acorporation of Minnesota application May ze, loro. serial No. 455,650

2 claims. 01. ls-so) My invention relates to an improvement in parts of the machine ixi a. special lmderslung electric scrubbing, waxing, and steel wooling maframe, and centering the weight of the same bechine adapted for a number of uses and valuable tween a pair of caster wheels and the scrubbing for a plurality of purposes in the proper treatbrushes to cause the brushes to bear down upon ment and care of floors of all kinds. the oor. CG

` It is the object of my invention to provide It is a feature of my machine t0 provide a gee-1 an electric machine having a wide range of utilcasing for the drive gears which is adapted to be ity and suitable in the construction and mainpacked with grease or oil. It is e nevel feature tenance of floors and flooring. My machine is of my invention to provide arcuated grease dim suitable for grinding and polishing terrazzo and recting ribs upon the inner surface of the gear 65 concrete oors, steel wooling and waxing oors chamber which actby the revolving of the gears of allkinds.aswe1lasscrubbing the nished floors ,to force the greasetoward the gear shafts and to keep them free from dirt. My machine is thus thrust bearings, so that the revolving of the gears useful for practically every task in the proper acts to lubricate the shafts of the same in a sim- 15 formation and maintenance of floors and oorple and efleient manner- 70 ing- It is an object of my invention to provide a It is my purpose to form 4the floor scrubbing tank for liquid which is attached adjacent the brushes oi my machine to intermesh, so that the guiding undl Opere-ting 4bundle 0f the maehine, entire surface of the floor covered by the brushes Whieh tank is Previded With a Veil/e -epeleble 'at 2c will be thoroughly scrubbed, leaving no path bea-noint adjacent the upper end 0f the handle. 75 tween the brushes which is untouched by either t0 allOW liquid t0 issue throughs nozzle near the brush. This is advantageous over the scrubbing scrubbing brushes. It is lalso a feature of my maclunes which'` merely rotate in circular set invention t0 provide a means 0f Setting this valve paths, onebrush rotating beside the other, and, at e predetermined Opening, so that .theamount as especially when slightly worn; Vleave va path beof liquid `passing through .the valve may be resu- 50 tween the brushes which is untouched by either lated t0 the desired flOW- brush. lMy brushes are formed of ovular or el- These. tgether With Other Objects and novel liptical'shape, and when' inserted' in my mafeatures 0f my invention, will be more clearly chine, the longitudinal axis of each of the brushes and fully set forth in the following specification is at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the and claims. 35

other. The brushes nt closely together. so that In the drawings fermi-ng a Dart 0f this sDeCiin rotation, that portion of the iioor between the cation: brushes -when the brushes are in one position Figure 1 is s pelspeetive View 0f my 11001* ssrubwill be scrubbed by one cr the other or the bins, waxing, and Steel woolins machine.-

' brushes as they revolve. Figure 2 is a perspective bottom view of the 9b It is an importantI feature of my invention that Same the scrubbing brushes are so attached that they Figure 3 is e plan -vieW 0f my machine, the may be utilized until the bristles are virtually handle and tank having been removed. worn oil entirely from the same. This is accom- Figure 4 is. s section 0n the lines 4-4 0f plished by employing a special means of counter- Figure 3.

sinking the attaching means for securing the Figure 5 iacaqgross-sectional view on the lines brushes to the drive shafts. By this means all 5-5 of Figure 3. danger of injuring the floor by means of scratch- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the frame. of ing the same with the brush attaching means my machine. t ,i is obviated, and it ispossible to wear the brushes Figure 'l is a perspective longitudinall cross- 100 untilihe bristles are Very short Without danger sectional view through the center of one of the 0i' injuring theiiOOr. i door scrubbing brushes, illustrating the method It is my object to provide a floor scrubbing maof connecting the same. chine which will be suiiiciently low and compact Figure 8 is a perspective bottom view ofthe to allow it to be used under desks and furniture. gear casing cover. 106

By such structure the floors may be scrubbed. y Figure 91s a cross-sectional view longitudinally waxed, or polished without the necessity of re through-the center of theliquid'tank.

moving all the furniture fromthe oor, and with- 'Figure 10 is a perspective view of the adjusting out disturbing the arrangement of thel same. means for regulating the liquid valve. 'I'his is accomplished by suspending the variousll Figure 11 is a bottom view of the steel woolin'g llo means, the steel wool on a part of the same being removed to show the holding means.

' Figure 12 is'a section onthe lines 12-12 of Figure 11.

.0 Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional view through Alas slung frame between the caster wheels 11 and the brushes l2.

The brushes 12 are elliptical or oval in shape, `and are secured to the driving shafts 13 in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of one of the brushes is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the other at all times. Thusfthe brushes intermesh together so that as the machine A moves forwardly, there is no path between the brushes 12 with which one or the other of the brushes has not come in contact. The arrange-v ment of the two brushes is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The brushes 12 are secured to the shafts 13 in a novel manner. The plate 14 on the` top of the brushes to which the brushes are attached, is provided with a boss 15 extending crosswise on the top of the same. Within this boss 15 is formed a channel or groove 16. A pin 17, extending through the shaft 13, ts into this groove 16 when the brush 12 'is inserted on the shaft, the shaft passing through the hole 18 which is formed through the brush 12, the plate 14, and the boss 15, in the center thereof. The brush is in this manner keyed to the shaft and prevented from turning with relation to the shaft 13. To secure the brush 12 against slipping from the shaft, I form an arcuated groove 19 in the lower surface of the brush back, said groove 19 being positioned in line with the longitudinal axis of the brush, or at right angles to the groove or channel 16. As may be seen in Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings, a key 20 is inserted in a hole formed in the shaft 13, the key 20 thus being countersunk into the brush back, and the end of the shafts 13 not extending lower than the lower surface of the brush back. The key 20 is formed of spring metal in the form illustrated in Figure '1, and is held removably in place under spring tension. In this manner, the bristles 22 may be entirely worn from the brush back before the ends of the shafts 13 will scratch or injure the surface of the oor on which the machine is used.

The holes 18 are drilled sufliciently large to provide play between the shafts 13 and the brushes 12. The grooves 16 are formed with an arcuated bottom, as illustrated in Figure 4, so that the brushes 12 may tilt or tip slightly to insure a contact with an uneven oor. Thus, one of the brushes 12 may be' sloping at an angle while the other is flat, as the connection between the brushes 12 and the shafts 13 is in reality a modified universal joint. The shafts 13 areoperated by means-lof a pair of gears 22. These gears are set within a casing. f 23 which is secured in a manner to be described later, by bolts 24 to the frame 25 of the machine. This casing 23 is provided with bosses 26 extending downwardly from the same, which bosses 26 are drilled to accommodate the shafts 13, and enclose a ball bearing for the same to keep the shafts in vertical alignment. The casing 23 is formed with side walls 27, upon the upper edge of which rests the cover member 28. The cover 28 is held in place by the bolts 24 which pass through the casing 23 and screw into the cover 28, clamping the casing 23 securely against the frame 25.' Cup-like formations 29 on the lower surface of the cover 28 accommodate ball thrust bearings 30 for the tops of the shafts 13, so that the weight of the machine upon the brushes 12 may be taken care of without excessive loss of power due to friction. Arcuated ribs 32, illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, act to guide the grease in which the gears 22 are packed toward the tops of the shafts 13 so that the rotation of the gears 22 forces the grease against the ribs 32 and guides it toward the center of the gears. A portion 31 of the floor of the gear casing 23 slopes toward the center of the same, to allow the oil and grease to flow in this direction. 'I'his construction insures constant and steady lubrication for the gear shafts.

The gears 22 are operated by means of a worm gear 33 acting upon both of the gears 22 simultaneously, and being positioned between them. The worm gear 33 is keyed upon a drive shaft 34, which terminates adjacent the front end of the gear casing 23, and which is provided with a ballthrust bearing 35 mounted on the inner surface of the gear casing. The shaft 34 projects through a packing jointand bearing 36 formed in the rear side of the gear casing 23, and is connected by means of a flexible joint 37 to the electric operating motor 38 which furnishes the power for revolving the brushes. This formation is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The motor 38 is mounted upon the frame 2 5, which is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, and is secured thereto by the b01ts 39 which pass through holes 40 in the frame. A suitable cover 42 ts over the motor compartment of the frame, and also ts over the projecting lip portion 43 of the cover 28 of the gear compartment 23. This forms a tight joint through lwhich the grease of the'gear compartment is not permitted to enter the motor compartment of the machine.

The caster wheels 11 are mounted upon a shaft 44 which passes through holes 45 in the frame. Thus, the weight of the motor 38, and the various gears and parts, is centered between the caster wheels 11 and the brushes 12.

Pivotally secured to the rear end 46 of the frame 25 I attach the forked end 47 of the operating handle 10. Removably secured by suitable brackets 48 to the handle 10 is suspended the tank 49, in which is placed the solution to be used'in the scrubbing of the floor, or in the grinding of thesame. This tank 49 is provided with a cover 50, by means of which the tank may be lled, and at the lower `end of the tank 49 a tube 52 projects. The .liquid contained within the tank 49 is `conveyed through the tube 52, which passes through the holes 53 and 54 in the frame, and terminates at a nozzle 55, positioned adjacent the vbrushes 12. The flow of liquid through the tube 52 is regulated by means of a valve 56. Ihis tube 52 is enlarged within the tank and is formed with a beveled seat 57 .adapted to fit a. complementary conical end 58 upon the rod 59. Drawing the end 58 upwardly in v the tube 52 uncovers rows of holes 60 through K which liquid is allowed to pass into the tube 52.

increased number of holes 60, and so the now is increased as the rod 59 is pulled upwardly. A coil spring 61 tends to keep the valve 56 closed at all times. 'I'he rod 59 extends to a point near the upper end of the handle, and may be held in various positions to hold the valve 56 open or closed as desired by means of a collar 62, illustrated in Figure 10, having graduated notches 63 thereupon whereby the rod 59 may be pulled out and turned, a complementary notched collar 64 on the rod 59 engaging in` the desired notch to hold the valve open the correct degree. The valve 56 is illustrated in closed position in Figure 9, while the dotted lines in this figure show the valve in extreme open position.

In order to prevent the machine from injuring any furniture or wall against which it is accidentally pushed, and avoid scratching, denting or otherwise marring the legs of desks or other objects with which it may come in contact, I provide a fabric bumper member 65, which is secured to the frame 25 and extends about the entire front portion or gear casing 23 of the machine. This fabric bumper 65 is held toV the frame 25 by means of countersunk bolts, so that the fabric will be the portion of the machine rst to come into contact with an object against vwhio the machine is pushed. y

Polishing means, grinding stones,'sanding or waxing blocks, or 'steel wooling means may be secured to the shafts 13 in the place of the scrubbing brushes 12, and may be attached in the same manner. Illustrated in Figures 11,v l2, 13,

and 14 of the drawings are a steel wooling means and a sanding block suitable for use in place of the brushes 12. The steel wooling means is provided' with a brush 66 having short bassine bristles 67 spaced relatively far apart. Impregnated throughout these bristles 67,' and extend ing about them is steel wool 68, held in place by the bristles 67. The spacing apart of the bristles allows the steel wool to become firmly embedded in the same.

For sanding, or grinding with a paper abrasive, I form the sanding block 69 in the manner shown in Figure 13. Under the plate 14, attached to the wooden block 70, I provide internally threaded sleeves 72 having flanges 73 through which screws 74 may pass to hold the sleeves in place. A pad of sponge rubber 75 or other suitable material is secured to the lower surface of the block 70. Abrasive sheets 76, provided with slits 77 are secured to the sleeves 72 by means of bolts 78. Because of the slits 77, the bolts 78 may be screwed until the heads 79 ofthe same are countersunk into the rubber 75, the edges of the slits 77 under the heads 79 holding the abrasive sheets 76 in place. Y

Thus, my machine is suitable for a great number of purposes, and may be used for virtually every task in the formationl and maintenance -of floors and flooring. While I have described my machine as `being particularly adaptable for'use upon floors, I desire to have it understood that my machine may be used for the sanding of marble, granite, or anyother type of stone or metal.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my electric scrubbing, waxing and steel wooling machine, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that this is only suggestive of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A oor finishing device including, an electric motor, a frame and housing for inclosing said motor, caster wheels on one end of said housing for supportingthe same on thedoor, an operating finishing head projecting from said housing opposite to said supporting wheels, finishing brush members carried by said head adapted to be rotated in a horizontal plane, shafts for supporting said brushes, bearings for said shafts, gears carried by said shafts in the upper part of said head, a worm gear operable by said motor interposed between said gears operating said brushes, a cover for said gears and worm, andkh reinforcing and grease directing ribs formed on the inner surfaceof said cover adapted to cause the grease to work toward said supporting shafts and the center of said gears.

2. An electric iloor finishing device including. an electric motor, a housing for inclosing said motor, a long operating'shaft for said motor extendingout of said housing, a gear operating head secured to said motor housing and projecting from one side of the same into which said shaft is adapted to extend, bearings in said head for said motor shaft, a worm gear carried between said bearings, horizontal gears supported within said head in a gear compartment to provide a grease-tight compartment for all of said operating gears, a cover for said head having means for directing the grease toward the gears, vertically disposed shafts operated by said horizontally disposed gears, floor finishing members adapted to be supported by said vertically disposed shafts in a manner to permit different iinishing members to be readily attached to said shafts, means for pivotally supporting said motor housing and operating head to tilt the oor finishing members toward' or away from the floor, an operating and steering handle for said device, and a supply tank carried by said handle for floor finishing material having valve regulating means operable at the end of thesteering 

